MLB Player News

Winckowski allowed three runs on four hits over two-thirds of an inning in Friday's 8-6 loss to St. Louis.

It was a blown save for Winckowski, who came on in the sixth inning after Boston took a 4-2 lead. Winckowski has been dominant out of the bullpen; the right-hander entered Friday's game with a 1.50 ERA over 24 innings.

Holmes (1-2) earned the win over Tampa Bay on Friday, allowing one hit and no runs over two-thirds of an inning. He struck out one batter.

The Yankees carried a two-run lead into the eighth frame, but Michael King served up a three-run homer to Josh Lowe to cough up the advantage. With one out and one on, Holmes was summoned to try to prevent additional damage, and he was able to do so despite giving up a single to the first batter he faced. New York then took the lead back on a two-run shot by Anthony Rizzo in the bottom of the frame, lining Holmes up for his first victory of the campaign. Meanwhile, Wandy Peralta closed things out with a scoreless ninth to record his first save of the season. This was the fifth straight outing for Holmes in which he was used in a non-save situation, though he continues to see mostly high-leverage work and has allowed just one run while posting a 6:1 K:BB over four innings during that span. He may still be the most likely option for save chances in what has become an unsettled New York bullpen, but with his last save coming April 12 and four different Yankees relievers nabbing at least one save in the interim, it's clear that Holmes is more of a committee member than a full-time closer.

Smith was bypassed in a save situation in Friday's 9-7 extra-inning loss to the Athletics.

Smith had pitched three of the last four games, including the previous two, so this could have been manager Bruce Bochy not wanting to use his closer for a fourth time in five nights. Instead, the manager stuck with Brock Burke, who had finished out the ninth but didn't retire a batter in the extra frame.

Robertson walked two and struck out four over 1.2 scoreless innings Friday to record his fourth hold of the season in a 3-2 win over the Nationals.

The veteran right-hander was put in position to try and get a six-out save, but after breezing through the eighth inning Robertson ran out of steam in the ninth, eventually throwing 40 pitches (20 strikes) before he needed Drew Smith to finish things out and collect the save. Given that hefty workload, Robertson likely won't be available for a save chance Saturday should one arise, and he might end up getting Sunday off too. On the season, the 38-year-old is a perfect 7-for-7 in converting save opportunities with a 0.53 ERA, 0.88 WHIP and 24:7 K:BB through 17 innings.

Smith struck out the only batter he faced to record his first career save in Friday's 3-2 win over the Nationals.

Manager Buck Showalter didn't want to take any chances once the Mets grabbed the lead in the sixth inning, and after Adam Ottavino worked a scoreless seventh, David Robertson was asked to try and get a six-out save. When Robertson ran out of gas in the ninth inning after throwing 40 pitches, however, Smith was on hand to bail him out. Smith has earned his high-leverage spot with a 1.88 ERA, 1.05 WHIP and 20:7 K:BB through 14.1 innings, collecting two wins and seven holds in 16 appearances along with Friday's save, but he's unlikely to see consistent save opportunities barring an injury to either Robertson or Ottavino.

Chafin allowed two hits and struck out one over one inning to earn a hold in Friday's 7-5 win over San Francisco.

Chafin entered with one out and a runner on in the eighth inning against a string of scheduled lefties. He allowed the inherited runner to score but managed to preserve the lead and got the first batter of the ninth out before Miguel Castro finished the game against right-handed batters. Chafin has been the club's primary closer but has hit a rough patch of late, giving up four runs on seven hits over his last two-plus innings.

Brebbia did not factor into the decision Friday, allowing one hit and one walk over a scoreless inning against the Diamondbacks. He struck out two.

Brebbia was San Fransisco's opener for the second time this season. The right-hander has a generous 5.52 ERA over just 14.2 innings this season, but he now also has 11 scoreless outings. The 32-year-old has had a couple of bad outings that have marred his overall stats, but he still has value to the Giants in a pinch.

Peralta gave up a hit and struck out two in a scoreless ninth inning Friday to record his first save of the season in a 6-5 win over the Rays.

Ian Hamilton, Michael King and Clay Holmes had all worked earlier in the night, so when Anthony Rizzo gave the Yankees the lead with a two-run homer in the bottom of the eighth, manager Aaron Boone didn't have many other options to try and close things out. Peralta has been effective this season when called upon, collecting two wins and three holds over 17 appearances (plus Friday's save) with a 1.88 ERA and 16:8 K:BB through 14.1 innings, and if the team's late-inning picture does become a true committee, the 31-year-old would be the only lefty in the mix.

Bautista picked up the save during Friday's 6-3 win over the Pirates, striking out the side in a perfect ninth inning.

Bautista entered with a three-run lead and struck out the side en route to his ninth save of the season. The right-hander is now 9-for-12 in save chances and boasts stellar numbers (1.50 ERA, 1.28 WHIP and 33:13 K:BB) across 18 appearances. Last year, his first in the big leagues, Bautista went 15-for-17 in save opportunities and finished with a 2.19 ERA, 0.93 WHIP and 88:23 K:BB over 65.2 innings, so he's already put together an impressive track record in limited MLB action.

Castro allowed one hit and struck out one over a scoreless two-thirds of an inning to record the save in Friday's 7-5 win over the Giants.

Castro got the call from the bullpen after Andrew Chafin got the first out of the ninth inning. It was Castro's second save of the season. Chafin has been the primary closer, but manager Torey Lovullo had him enter the eighth inning against a string of lefty batters. The sequence hinted at changes Lovullo mused about with Theo Mackie of the Arizona Republic. In reaction to a string of adverse relief work, the manager talked about shifting roles and avoiding the overuse of his most trusted arms, like Chafin.